28

Notes:

"Someone's in a good mood."

Pony felt her cheeks warm as her green-haired classmate's smile grew even wider. She looked as though she was the cat that had caught the canary. The American did her best to look as innocent and inconspicuous as she could in the face of that amused gaze. From her friend's light chuckling, it didn't do much to dissuade her.

"You finally ask Bug Boy out?" Setsuna asked as she wrapped her arm around her shoulder. Pony could feel another blush rise up her neckline, and her eyes desperately flickered across the classroom, hoping and praying that everyone else had something better to do with their time. She knew that keeping her crush on Peter hidden was a lost cause (except from Peter himself, ironically)

Thankfully the only one who seemed to be paying any attention was Kendo, who was giving her a slight frown that she couldn't quite decipher.

"Arachnid," she blurted out.

Setsuna blinked. "…sorry?"

"Ah…" a wave of embarrassment washed over her. "Spiders are arachnids, not bugs."

"…right. But don't think I didn't notice you didn't answer my question," her friend pointed out with a cheeky grin. Pony grumbled as she wrapped her shoulders in a one-arm hug, trapping her in place.

The blonde glanced towards the clock.

It would still take five minutes for class to start, and there was no way that she would be able to hold off Setsuna's questioning that long. She would keep on needling until she managed to dig something up.

Her friend was tenacious like that.

Though…telling Setsuna would keep her from blurting it out to the rest of the class. The young American could easily imagine her friend doing something like that to break her defiance and embarrass her. The thought of that happening made a whole new wave of anxiety pass through her. Trying to keep her question a secret from Peter when someone like Monoma was her classmate would be all but impossible.

"…not yet," she quietly admitted.

She had come close this morning – well scratch that, she had been trying since after the Sports Festival. Unfortunately, there always seemed to be something coming up between the two of them. That project that he had been working on had finally finished (she had never heard him so happy), and all the publicity that he was getting, that they were both getting, had eaten up their time.

She could have asked him over the phone…but that just felt impersonal.

The teen knew she could have tried to ask him this morning, but he had been distracted, and she didn't want the weight of a possible 'no' pushing down on her for the rest of the day. Better that it happened at the end of the day when she could go home and eat a few dozen apples to ease her pain.

Plus…she really needed to work herself up to this.

"Really?" Setsuna asked with a raised brow. "I thought you would have been all over him by now." Pony felt a sliver of dread pass through her as her grin turned positively predatory. "If you don't snatch him up soon, someone's going to ask out Mr. Popular. Have you seen his fan pages yet?"

Pony blanched. "D-don't remind me."

…so many fanfics.

She hadn't dared look at the ones about her.

"I'm asking him after school," she murmured. It felt silly, being so worked up about this. She was training to be a Pro hero, to fight against villains, and save lives. She had fought on international television and hadn't felt this nervous.

Yet the thought of asking Peter out still gave her butterflies.

Peter was an amazing friend…and she didn't want to ruin that.

Whatever his answer was, it wouldn't change her opinion about him, but the fear of how it would change his opinion of her lurked in the back of her mind. Mom had been right when she said he didn't seem like someone who would let something like that get in the way of a friendship, but it was still a genuine fear.

"How are you going to ask him?"

Pony blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Setsuna's grin did little to ease her nerves. "You could just be boring and ask him out like any regular old person, oooorrrrrrr…."

"I don't think I'm going to like this."

"You could grab him by the shoulders…"

"I'm not—"

"Confess your heart out…"

"I mean—"

"And then give him a big kiss!"

"Setsuna!" Pony all but shrieked, her cheeks so red they could have been replaced by tomatoes. A few of her other classmates glanced towards her, but nobody questioned her sudden outburst. If there was one positive thing about Setsuna's teasing was that she did it to everyone. They were probably just waving it off as some joke she had made and not her talking about spilling her heart out to her crush. "I'm wasn't going to do that!"

"But you're thinking about it now?"

"…maybe?"

From Setsuna's surprised blink, she hadn't been expecting that answer. Pony wasn't going to lie and say that idea wasn't appealing on some level, but it was the kind of trashy romance moved that belonged in cliché novels. Plus, the mere thought of attempting something like that left her feeling somewhat lightheaded.

She …didn't have the confidence for that.

"…you're serious about this, aren't you?"

"Y-yeah," Pony said, leaning back at the uncharacteristically serious look her friend was giving her. The girl was usually all smiles and laughs, but right now, her expression might as well have been carved from stone as she searched for something. "I-I mean he's a really good friend, and I like him and—"

"Pony, lots of people like Peter. I like him because he's good eye candy and fun to tease, but I'm not really serious about asking him out. I'm not going to say no if he asked, but I'm not going to go after him while others are chasing him. That support girl likes him because he can keep up with her brain…not too sure she thinks about him any other way. But you?" Pony leaned back as her friend leaned in.

"You really have feelings for him, don't you?"

"…yes," was all she could say, her voice small and weak.

Pony…she had never had that many friends growing up. Living on the family ranch left her rather isolated from the rest of the community, and her bovine/equine quirk had gotten her bullied more than once. Coming to Japan had been even worse, trapping in a foreign land where she barely spoke the language and often looked down on for her American heritage and cultural quirks…it had been hard.

Then Peter had shown up.

She didn't want to think about what would have happened to her if the friendly New Yorker hadn't approached her during their shared language class. She probably wouldn't have been nearly as confident in her own abilities if he hadn't been there, assuring her that she was doing well, that she wasn't screwing up. He had helped push back that self-doubt that tripped her up so many times before and helped her be herself.

Peter had been friendly to her when nobody else had.

She couldn't help but admire his reasons for wanting to be a hero, for seeing every problem no matter how small of seemingly insignificant worthy of his time. Others might have called it foolish to spend so much time with mundane things when villains roamed the streets, but weren't heroes supposed to be more than just punchers of bad guys?

Weren't heroes supposed to be inspirations to the people they defended?

…hadn't he inspired her?

"So, how you going to ask him?" Setsuna asked, leaning back in her seat.

"Ask who what?"

Pony blinked as Kendo approached them, questioning gaze washing over them both. A quick glance revealed that nobody else had bothered to join in, which was a relief. Besides, Kendo had been a massive help in training and a source of advice for the whole class, surely she would know something that could help!

"Pony here is going to ask out The Next All-Might," Setsuna said with a slight snicker. Pony couldn't help but groan a little. She knew how little Peter liked that nickname, no matter how deserving of it he was. Kendo's gaze sharpened, and the blonde shivered a little under the intensity of the scrutiny.

"Pony…are you sure this is something you want to do?" Her class president asked, arms crossed and face impassive. There was something about the way she asked the question that struck a nerve like she was being judged poorly for her choice.

"Yes," she intoned, with perhaps just a tad more force than necessary.

Kendo held up her hands in surrender. "I didn't mean to imply anything…but being a hero is hard work and doesn't leave much time for a relationship. I'm just thinking that you should focus on being the best you can instead of trying to impress a single boy."

"The most worthwhile things in life are the most difficult to accomplish," Pony said, borrowing a phrase that she had heard Dad use many times over the years. She knew that he had started his relationship with Mom back when he was in the prime of his career, and he had made it work. It was true that heroing might get in the way of a relationship and vice versa, but to give it up because it was a little difficult?

Heroes were supposed to face insurmountable odds and come out on top.

Why would this be any different?

"I'm going to ask him, nothing's going to change that," Pony said with as much conviction as she could muster. The blonde could feel the surprise wash over the two girls, which wasn't that shocking. She knew that she wasn't what someone would call a particularly forceful person (though Monoma had taken to flinching whenever she stepped to close), but this wasn't something she was going to back down on.

"Well…" Kendo looked almost lost, a far cry from her usual innate self-confidence. "I suppose if you're serious about this…be yourself. But make sure that you're clear you're asking him out, Parker's the kind of guy you need to hit over the head with a two by four to get your intentions across."

Pony wanted to defend Peter…

…but she couldn't help but flashback to the time she had tried to do things with him…

…maybe Kendo's observation wasn't unwarranted.

Kendo and Setsuna started to debate about the best methods to tell Peter about her feelings though Setsuna's were far more…raunchy than she was comfortable thinking about. Instead, she let the two voices fade to the background as she solidified her resolve.

Okay, I just gotta tell Peter how I feel about him without choking up or getting cold feet.

Pony glanced towards the clock.

Barely two minutes had passed since this conversation had started.

…this is going to be a long school day.

(X)

"How are we looking?" Peter asked, setting down the smoldering pen.

All around him, the monitors that made up the support class office were alive. A million different calculations flashed across the screens before they all came together in the familiar round symbol.

"Rudimentary tests are correct," The AI voiced, "After final calibrations, we should be able to house my unit for the extended periods like you wished."

"Current battery life?" Peter asked, looking over the finished creation.

On the table in front of him, the wired and finished replica of his old mask stared back up at him. The circuitry was on another level than what he was used to. Half the design choices that went into this thing would've never even occurred to him.

Thankfully, Peter had a friend that was literally packed with blueprints just waiting to be used.

"I estimate that you'll be able to push the battery life for one hundred and seventy-three continuous hours, so long as you don't overcharge the displays."

"Got it." Picking up the mask, Peter gently placed it within the automated stitching unit. A big machine, made to fix up the little tears in whatever costume that the support students were looking for. Normally, you'd have to upload a schematic of what your suit looked like, the colors that made up the designs, even the stitching pattern desired.

It took forever, if you didn't have a friend that could upload all of that information in an instant. The second he pressed the start button, the arms went to work, covering up the circuitry and bringing back that familiar red and black.

"Before you ask, it'll take all night sadly. None of these are up to par with typical Stark Industries-level machinery," Karen said.

"It's not too bad," Peter replied, putting in his earpiece and hefted his bag, "A little waiting never hurt anyone."

"I can state seventeen examples of waiting that did hurt people," The AI spoke, "But before that, you received an email two minutes ago. Your train tickets to Endo have arrived."

Peter felt… mixed about that. On one hand, he was one step closer to his internship and serving out his punishment. On the other, he had absolutely no idea who Mirko was. All that he could really find from a quick search was that she was the Number Seven ranked hero in Japan, with a theme revolving around rabbits and a lot of martial arts. She was also incredibly powerful and on the go a lot.

Maybe he'd be able to catch Midori before he headed off to his internship tomorrow. After all, the green-haired boy probably had more information on Mirko than her website did.

"Also, Yu says that she'll be running late tonight so you'll have to take the train home."

Peter cocked an eyebrow. "Did she say why she was held up?"

"Hanging out with a friend," Karen admitted as Peter stepped out of the Studio, the sun beginning to set as its rays peered in from the windows.

"Hey Peter!"

The American snapped his head around, blinking as Pony bounded up to him. Oh right, they had agreed to talk. All that work must've messed something up in his head for him to forget.

"From the looks of things, you're going to be held up too."

Peter rolled his eyes. 'Karen please.'

"Hey Pony. Wanna have that talk? I'm free." he said in English. The blonde girl perked up.

"Uh… yes! But ah, is the support room empty?"

Peter nodded his head.

"Great, could we talk in there?" his fellow American asked, "This is…" She paused, looking to the side as she blushed lightly. "Kinda personal."

Peter blinked, "Ah, sure."

Leading the way, Peter tossed his bag on an empty seat while Pony slowly walked around, taking in the sights of the support room.

"Go get'em tiger," Karen said, and Peter resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Peter shot a look at his phone, quickly taking out his earbud as Pony fiddled with a circuit board. Normally, this was the part where someone would say something, but the two of them quickly lapsed into silence.

Peter tapped the desk, Pony looked out the window.

Neither so much as coughed.

"So…" Peter started, "What do you want to talk about?"

Pony perked up, surprised, like she wasn't expecting the question. She took a deep breath and continued wandering around, hands clasped in front of her as her hooves clopped against the ground.

"Yeah, well, I don't really know how to say this," she admitted in English.

Peter nodded slowly, but things weren't adding up. Pony shuffled her hoof feet, had her hands behind her back and everytime that she so much as looked at him her eyes darted away.

"Say what? Talk to me."

Pony looked at him, that redness growing before she took a deep breath.

"Well, then there's only one way to say this."

Say what?

That's what Peter wanted to ask, but the words died in his throat as Pony walked up to him slamming her hands on his work desk. Peter jerked back, but Pony kept going forward until they were only a few inches apart. The blush had utterly engulfed her face, and Peter swore that even her horns were embarrassed.

"I like you."

…

What?

"A-A lot."

…

…

Peter didn't know what to say to that. Pony stared at him, waiting for an answer, but his brain was shot. A thousand calculations and stupid jokes that usually floated around were completely silent for the first time in his life.

So he didn't think, he had to work on instinct.

"Ah, thanks."

Instincts bad.

Pony blinked and Peter quickly threw his hands up.

"Okay, uhh that's not what I'm supposed to say," he stammered, "This is like, super important and deep and personal and I should be waiting for you to explain yourself because I know you and you don't just say stuff like that and I'm rambling because usually the I like you comes from me-and I should shut up shouldn't I?" Peter's shoulders deflated as he clamped his mouth shut.

"P-please," Pony said, finally turning away, "This is hard enough without all that ya know?"

"Yeah, I mean," Peter stopped, quickly clearing his throat, "You were saying?"

"I-I don't know what I'm supposed to be saying!" Pony spat out, her face somehow getting redder as she shook her head. "The point is, Peter…" She paused, ramrod stiff, taking a deep breath. "We've been friends for over a year now…" Her blue eyes shifted to the floor as she struggled to find the words. "And you've… you've been the best friend I could ever ask for. Ever since we came here, me from Texas, you from New York…" She tugged at her arm. "I'm ramblin'," She shook her head, patting her cheeks before she took a deep breath. "You have supported me through and through ever since we got here to Japan. If… I had never met you, I don't think I would be at the spot where I am today." Pony let out a soft laugh, and she looked up, beaming, her big blue eyes and how they shimmered. "I want… somethin' more, y-you know?"

…

Peter's heart was tight, a lump forming in his throat as he could only hear his own heartbeat and the dull humming of the machines and computers. Not exactly the ideal scene for a love confession.

"So… you want to be… more than friends?" Peter asked, biting his lip as Pony nodded.

"Yeah," She reached out, her hand taking his as the American boy seemed to flinch at the contact. Peter's mouth was agog as he blinked rapidly, letting out a laugh.

"I mean… Wow. Wooow." Peter smiled as he ran his hands down his face. "W-Where, I mean… dang." He took a deep breath, looking to the ceiling as the shorter horned girl stared at him with waiting eyes, his heart aflutter. "Pony, I…" The American paused, trying to find the words. There was a part of him that wanted to say yes. To accept her feelings. To embrace her and twirl her around. To give her the joy and love she wanted.

But in truth… he didn't feel that way.

He just didn't.

She was his friend. Nothing more.

He swallowed, taking a deep breath. "Pony, I…" How do you even say this? Just looking at her and thinking the words made him feel like an ass...

But he wouldn't want to get strung along if he were in her shoes, right? "But I…I don't feel the same way. I'm… I'm sorry."

He met Pony's gaze, and the girl visibly winced, almost as soon as she heard the word 'But' come out of his mouth. Almost wilting right in front of him.

"O-Oh…" She said, her voice weak. She looked like she'd been stabbed, and Peter felt like an ass. A colossal one.

"Pony... you're one of my best friends. I don't want to-"

"So it's a no then?"

She interrupted, and the little smile that came over her features was downright heartbreaking.

He cringed.

He was definitely an ass.

They lapsed into an awkward, tense silence and Peter saw Pony's fists trembling where she stood, heard the hitch of her breath before she took a slow, deep inhale and seemed to gather herself before pulling her eyes away from the floor and looking at him again. "I can't just… ask you to forget what I just said."

"You don't have to." He answered quickly. "You aren't the problem here. If anything I'm the issue. A-Anyone who says no to you is an idiot. Like, you're amazing and strong and smart and-"

That brought out a laugh, though it was a tremulous thing. Painful even.

"I-it's ok Pete. I'm a big girl." Her smile was wide. Too wide. "Yeah," Pony spoke out, shaking her head. "We're heroes in trainin' after all. Honestly, lookin' back it was kind of a bad idea to ask you like this, with internships comin' up, finals. Heh, the whole kit and kaboodle!"

Peter bit his lip. "Pony-"

She reached for her bag, grabbing it and hoisting it over her shoulder before stepping towards the door, not even looking his way. "I have to go. I was in a bit of a rush to catch the bus before I came and I don't wanna be late." Her voice was soft, low.

He stood up, the words caught in his throat as he wondered if trying to keep talking would just make things worse or if he could somehow heal the hurt he'd caused. He reached a hand out.

Before he could decide, the decision was taken completely out of his hands as Pony opened the door and left, fast given the clopping of her hooves against the floor. He could hear the walking clops pick up faster in pace before they faded away.

"Considering everything, I think you handled that as best you could." Karen chimed in from the surrounding systems.

Peter sighed, leaning against the wall as he looked up.

"Calculate fastest route home." He murmured, walking out of the studio and hoping beyond hope that it wasn't as long as he remembered.

"Do you want to talk about-"

"No." Peter cut her off via her earpiece as he prepared to walk home, leaving U.A.

(X)

Yagi Toshinori took a deep breath, feeling the intake of air stretch his skinny frame as he sat in the back of the car.

The driver Tsukauchi had recommended, Nagamasa Hiro, was very professional; a fact Toshinori was grateful for right now. Not needing to focus on keeping his muscle form allowed him time to relax, physically, which left him plenty of free time to think. Upon first witnessing Toshinori's transformation into All Might, the man had gaped for a moment. His eyebrows shot up into his hairline before he composed himself, straightening out his suit and proceeding as if nothing was amiss. Normally Tsukauchi would handle the driving, but he couldn't as he was busy with an investigation of some kind.

Right now Toshinori's thoughts were orbiting around one thi-well, two things.

The internships.

Namely the internships of both his chosen successor Young Midoriya, and Young Parker, who's recent... lapse in judgement Toshinori considered to be a personal failure on his part.

He was his teacher, and he'd let that kind of poisonous resentment languish inside his student.

He should have been more observant. Should have seen the signs. Should have talked to Aizawa.

A part of him knew it was illogical. Rivalry and competition birthed out the best in all of people. Drove them to become better no matter what. So what if some kids disliked each other and pushed one another? Kids will be kids. The other part that had driven him to become the Symbol of Peace in the beginning told the first part to shut up and accept the deserved rebuke.

As for Young Midoriya, he couldn't fault the boy for accepting Edgeshot's offer, not only did the boy not know of Gran Torino's very existence but he also deserved the recognition of interning under such a prestigious and high ranked Hero. He would learn much under Kamihara. No doubt on that.

But there was a niggling feeling that he had to do a little more, go a little further. He hadn't done right by any of his students through his negligence.

The skeletal man let out a sigh as he slumped in his seat. Being a teacher was hard.

How did Nana make it look so easy?

The car pulled to a stop at an intersection, and Toshinori felt his body rock lightly with the motion. Just a few blocks now, better puff himself up so-

The Symbol of Peace was brought up short as the very person he was trying to look for stepped out of a tea house.

Surprised, Toshinori found himself pressing his skeletal face against the glass, as though proximity would deny what he was seeing. "Wha?"

Nope. Nope. That was definitely Edgeshot waving away a barista with a smoking hot tea/coffee in hand.

His body rapidly growing into the familiar form of the worldwide protector of peace and justice that was All Might, Toshinori stepped out of the car. Unfortunately, he had failed to tell his driver of this development.

"Edgeshot!" He laughed upon stepping out, fingers gripping the door handle as the Ninja Hero turned to look at him in clear surprise. "Hello! For I-"

The car kept going.

With a wrenching crash Toshinori suddenly realized that he was left holding the car door.

Said car stopped with a quick screech of its tires as Mr. Nagamasa realized something had gone terribly wrong.

Nagamasa stepped out of the car, confused and worried.

People stared. Edgeshot stared, tilting his head.

And Toshinori could feel the blush crawling up his neck as he began to sweat nervously.

"Am here…"

(X)

After a few seconds of awkward explanation, apologies, wrenching metal into place and twisting it a bit more to make certain it stayed in place until they could get it fixed at the nearest car shop, some autographs and photo moments, All Might was finally able to talk with his fellow Top Ten Hero in relative peace, standing on the sidewalk.

"Well." Edgeshot shrugged. "You clearly wanted to talk to me so, here I am."

All Might coughed. "Ahem. Yes well, as you certainly know, the U.A. internships are starting today and the student you solicited accepted your offer."

Edgeshot nodded. "Ah yes, Midoriya Izuku."

"Well..." The Symbol of Peace hesitated. How to frame this… "I have a bit of a soft spot for Young Midoriya truth be told. I was just wondering what you had planned to cover and expand on during this internship. As his teacher, I thought it would be prudent to know."

"I was planning to help him with the basics of initiating an engagement, and perhaps, if there is time, some investigative work, but mainly his quirk usage." The Ninja Hero answered as he closed his visible eye. "Actually, if you could facilitate information on how his quirk functions that would definitely speed up the process considerably." He reopened said eye, although Toshinori had a feeling that his other one hidden behind his gray hair was locked on him. "I was planning on the first day or two to break down and dissect the quirk and the way it works. Being able to go through that quickly will certainly allow him to get the most out of his two weeks with me. Then we would refine it as we go over lessons and perhaps some detective work."

All Might tried to not break out in a cold sweat.

"Ahh yes I-" The excuse of not knowing anything about Midoriya's quirk as his scrambling brain quickly realized that; A) He was his teacher so he should know. B) He had already admitted to having a soft spot for the boy so that should apply doubly so. and C) Even if he didn't know he would have access to the files soooo...

"Well..." He chewed on his words, trying to find the best way to spill the beans without tipping over the whole container. "From what we can discern Midoriya's quirk lets him store some energy. But the amount he stores is too much for his body to handle right now."

"Hence why he breaks his bones." Edgeshot finished. "Interesting. Still, his physical strength and speed is far above most of his classmates, so he must have some control on how much of that stored energy he uses. Very interesting indeed." His mouth curved into a smile under his mask as he stood up. "Thank you All Might, but I believe I should get going, Midoriya will be arriving on the morrow and I want to make sure his accommodations are set."

"W-wait." Toshinori called, his hand going forward to stop the curious Ninja Hero. "Why did you choose him? Out of all the students there. Endeavor's son. Parker. Shiozaki. Why Young Midoriya, if I may ask?"

Edgeshot stared at him for a long, interminable moment. He chuckled lightly. "Surely you didn't think you're the only one that can have a soft spot for someone who can become a hero too, All Might."

Yagi went perfectly still.

Edgeshot's revealed eye curved into a smile. "I really should get going now. And you look like you have a door to go fix."

Toshinori turned, looking at the barely held together door before he looked back and Edgeshot was already gone from the sidewalk.

(X)

As soon as they were a block or two away from the site of his conversation with Edgeshot, Yagi allowed himself to deflate with a relieved sigh, the pinstripe suit once more hanging off his skeletal frame.

Slowly, the window separating him from Nagamasa began to roll itself down and Yagi winced as he met Nagamasa's eyes through the rearview mirror.

"You owe me a door, Yagi-san."

All Might coughed into his hand as he felt the embarrassment heat up his face again. "Sorry, Nagamasa-san. My agency will cover the expenses."

"Hnn."

As if on cue the car turned a corner and struck a pothole, the movement making the metal groan and shift with a lurch that let the door dangerously rock before settling down.

With a leery eye at the door, Toshinori turned his eyes back to Nagamasa with a cringe as the man rolled the window back up.

The Number One Hero sighed. "I'll cover the tires too..."

That was a good chunk of change down the drain.

Toshinori turned to look out of the window, watching the people going about their day. It was nice, seeing people at peace, it was a reminder of what he'd managed to accomplish. What he'd fought so hard for for the last few decades.

Endo Ward was several minutes away, and so Toshinori took to fiddling with his phone.

The news cycle had finally moved on from the Sports Festival by and large, but still there were pictures here and there, mainly of the third year students who were slated to graduate soon and be the latest generation of heroes to the world, many eyes were on U.A.'s "Big Three", each of whom had given outstanding performances in their own rights and ended in the top three spots in the tournament.

He wondered what the news would look like in two years with Young Midoriya about to graduate. Already he'd made a lot of strides in mastering One for All. In another two years, or even one, who knew what he'd achieve?

The Successors were always greater than their predecessors.

Scrolling through the various tabs and social media notifications, Toshinori let his mind wander as the noise of the car and even the creaky door beside him faded from his mind.

Finally, as he noted through his peripheral vision Nagamasa pulling off the exit ramp, Toshinori pried himself away from the little screen and pay attention to his surroundings again.

Finally, he could see the building coming up, just a block away.

Puffing himself up to the form of the indomitable All Might, Toshinori smiled as Nagamasa pulled up to the curb. Right before them was what looked like a warehouse in front of a giant domed stadium.

Carefully opening up the last remaining door, Toshinori stepped out of the car, walking over to Nagamasa's door and tapping on the window.

Rolling it down, he told his relatively new driver. "Ten minutes tops."

Nodding once, Nagamasa shifted the car into drive and headed off, to find a parking spot elsewhere.

Taking a breath, not entirely dissimilar to steeling his nerves when he was gonna step into a fight, Toshinori made his way into the Agency.

He opened the door. "Hello! For I am here!"

His booming voice startled the small auburn haired secretary, quite spectacularly.

She jumped in her seat, a file of some kind jumping off of her fingertips before her hands scrambled to catch it. "A-All Might!?" Her ears were perked up, and her bushy racoon-like tail was stiff and erect.

The distinct sound of weights and dumbells hitting the floor echoed through the room before he saw Mirko, at the lip of a doorway in a tight sports bra and sweatpants, gleaming in sweat. "The heck are you doin' here?" The Rabbit Hero asked, not even caring that the world's greatest hero as in her front lobby.

"Haha. I just came to talk to you about Young Parker!" Usagiyama's eye twitched as her ears folded.

"I already promised that I'd do it!" she said with a scowl. "I don't need you hovering over my shoulder about it like some mother hen."

His blue eyes found her red ones. "You promised you'd do it. But you never promised to do the best you could while doing it."

The dark skinned woman rolled her eyes before she marched over to him, looking cross as she placed her arms on her hips.

"If you don't trust me to do it right then why ask? I sure as hell have better things to do than explain myself in the middle of my training."

"Don't misunderstand me." He held up his hands in a placating gesture before putting them at his hips. "I know that once you promise to do something you'll see it through. That is the kind of woman you are. But you have no connection to Young Parker, and no reason to give the extra effort in something you didn't even wish to do in the first place. I would not blame you given your responsibilities. A favor to me isn't... a priority. I'm just here to ask you to give the boy a bit more of a chance, and a bit more of your time and effort than what's 'strictly necessary' and I know he will meet even your high standards." His trademark smile widened and shone brightly.

"I could just lie." She said. "Tell you what you want to hear."

He smiled. "Now that I know you wouldn't do."

For a long moment, Mirko stared at him before she huffed. "Tch. You're lucky I like you."

"Indeed." The Symbol of Peace laughed. "I've seen what you do to the people you don't like."

"Mr. All Might sir," The tanuki secretary that was a head shorter than the already short Mirko ran up with a glass of water. "Some water?"

"Why thank you young miss! Don't mind if I do!" He beamed as he bent down, taking it as he began to drink. Usagiyama crossed her arms over her full bosom and quirked an eye at him.

"So is this brat your secret American love child or something like the internet says?"

Toshinori spat out the water, thankfully the liquid arced over Mirko's head as he choked. "What!?"

Mirko shrugged. "Figured I'd ask. American boy with Super Strength and you pulling all the strings to get him into U.A. the same year you begin teachin', even coming all the way out here to Endo all but singing his praises…" She looked up at the blonde titan of a man with an inquiring eye. "Internet finally dig up something real on you or is it more tabloid BS?"

"Ahhh I... err... the latter." He could see the logic for the connection but... good lord he hadn't been back in the States in almost twenty years. Sheer mathematics would make it impossible, couldn't people see that?

Then again, Parker is fifteen to sixteen years of age. He can see why people can make such a connection, at least the conspiracy minded ones.

He realized that he had stated the last part aloud when Mirko smirked. "Don't let your 'math' and logic get in the way of a good story now, All Might. Now, if you'll excuse me. I got my training to get back to." She rolled her head a little. "Going on a patrol for the next few days across Central Japan before coming back here." She then turned around, waving back as she walked towards the inside of the building.

Well, he would have to take her at her word. All Might said his goodbye to the secretary and returned to the car.

(X)

The last few days had been a blur for Bakugo Katsuki.

Go to school. Eat. Head back. Go to his room. Lie in bed. Sleep.

Repeat.

That damn Deku kept to his word, finally, and left him alone. Thank god. Right now Katsuki wanted the week to be done.

Aizawa said that in the next few days their class would be wrapping up some school stuff and preparing to go to internships. Well, most of them would be. Parker. Deku. Everyone.

He hadn't even bothered to fill out the application forms.

What was even the point anymore?

Who would want a loser like him anyway?

So he ignored them.

He continued to look over his phone as he lay down in bed after a day at school. Looking over a news article on his phone made him breathe out his nose.

'The Next Generation of Heroes! The Next All Might waiting in the wings? Or 'All Mights'?' What we know so far of the Foreign Exchange Ace Freshman Student Peter Parker and the Shining Senior Superstars Togata Mirio, Amajiki Tamaki, and Hado Nejire!'

'Your name isn't on there. You're a fucking footnote now.' Katsuki thought as he closed his eyes. 'Come on… come on…'

Taking a deep breath he opened them again, staring at his palms and coaxing the sweat to come to the surface of his skin.

Nothing.

The sweat didn't ignite and Katsuki just stared at his open palm, eyes hollow.

Why did he pick U.A.? Why didn't he go to Shiketsu or Ketsubutsu? Why did he have to aim so high that he'd burned? He'd never be the strongest. Not with Todoroki there. Or fucking Deku. And especially Parker and his defeat in front of the whole world to see.

"Why did you save me All Might… why…!" He gritted out, gripping the sheets.

A knocking came at his door before he would wallow deeper, and Katsuki lifted his head. "I'll come down at dinner." He said sternly and loud, turning over and facing away from the door.

"Katsuki." It was Mom as she opened the door. "You have a guest. Come on."

Katsuki breathed out his nose as he looked back at the mother with whom he shared his features. The red-eyed blonde woman was frowning, but he could see those eyes of sympathy gazing at him. More pity.

"Who is it?" He reiterated dryly as he rolled out of bed, still in his school uniform.

"Doesn't matter who it is! He came just now and he wants to talk to you. So stop being rude and get downstairs" Mitsuki said with crossed arms over her bosom. "Come on, don't keep him waiting."

"I'm coming I'm coming…" Katsuki groused as he stormed out, walking past Mitsuki as his eyes remained glued to the floor. Who would bother coming here?

"Well well," Came a deep voice, a voice Katsuki didn't recognize except over the news. His head rose up as he walked down the stairs. "You really are in bad shape, aren't you?"

He was tall, massive even as he sat on the couch. Dressed in a suit and an orca-themed cape. Sakamato Kugo, Gang Orca, sat there with his father Masaru sitting across from him. The brown-haired man's eyes brightened at the sight of his only son as he gestured for Katsuki to sit beside him.

"Gang Orca?" Katsuki breathed, eyes wide. On the coffee table in front of him was his hero sheet that he had forgotten to sign.

The Killer Whale Hero gestured to the couch. "Please, have a seat."

The boy blinked, not sure how to react. After a moment his legs began to move, almost robotically if he were honest, sitting down beside his father shortly before the boy felt his mother sit next to him.

"You never filled out your Hero Internship form." Orca raised an eyebrow, whatever a whale's eyebrow could be called. "I wonder why?"

"Wait, you haven't filled that out Katsuki?" Mitsuki asked surprised, looking down at her son. The blonde wilted, looking at the floor.

"Doesn't matter." He shrugged, staring at their current guest.

He could feel his mother's whole body tense, like a bowstring being pulled taut, ready to spring and let loose.

"Alright, enough is enough with this moping bullshit!"

"Dea-"

"No! We tried it your way in giving him space!" She hollered at her husband seated across from her, who shrunk under her voice. "And he's on a goddamn-"

Somehow, Gang Orca's webbed hand reaching forwards and lifting the collection of the application forms made enough sound to cut over his mother's extremely loud voice.

Holding the stack in hand the Hero cleared his throat.

"Given that he has no protests one way or the other, if the two of you would consent, I will accept his internship application."

"W-Well." Masaru said, grateful to turn away for a moment from his wife's gritted teeth and barely held back rage as he bowed in respect. "We're grateful for this attention, and the opportunity and we'll-"

"What's the catch?" Mitsuki cut in flatly, as her husband winced. "Not everyone, much less a Pro Hero, shows up for a personal house call, especially when their email went ignored."

"Indeed they don't." Sakamoto answered with a bobbing nod of his head. "A friend asked, I answered, it's quite simple."

Katsuki scoffed, bringing the attention of the three adults right back to him.

"Tch. So you don't even want me for me. Just because somebody asked you to take on the charity case."

"Katsuki, you're not a-"

Before the words could come out of his father's mouth Gang Orca stood up from his seat, and for the first time Bakugo could appreciate just how massive the Hero was, he was taller than All Might.

"Charity is for the weak and slothful, and I have neither the time nor inclination to reward either, even for friends who ask nicely." Gang Orca growled. "You aren't that worthless; you finished as the runner-up in the Sports Festival and your grades have you at the top percentile of your grade, but I will not coddle you and soothe your hurt feelings." He glared down lightly.

With a turn of his head, the Hero nodded, once to both of his parents. "The offer is on the table should you accept, if you do Bakugo-san, I expect you in my agency at eight-AM sharp Monday morning." He reached into his suit jacket, and placed down his business card. "My address is listed here. Since this is a rush job, you'll have to pay for transportation yourself down to Nagasaki, should you accept. If you do, my agency will cover for food, room, and board as you work under us. I will not call, I will not chase after your whereabouts after that time on Monday. Show up, or be relegated to where you seem to think you belong." He growled, his red eyes sharp and piercing into the blond boy.

Katsuki winced, looking away as he closed his eyes, gripping his fists. He didn't deserve it. No one should bother going out of their way… not for a loser like him! Not for-

"Bakugo." He lifted his head, red eyes looking back into red as Gang Orca looked down at him from the side. "Will you choose to lie down and fade into the shadows after one defeat?" He turned his head, eyes as hard as steel as he gave him his full attention. "Or will you get back up, fight, and become the hero you've always wanted to be?"

With his words delivered the Killer Whale Hero bowed deeply once to his mother and then to his father. "Ma'am. Sir. Thank you for your time." And it was all his father could do to get up fast enough to escort him to the door.

(X)

The next few days flew by in a flash, thankfully, and Peter arrived at Musutafu Station with the rest of Class-A, all of them now standing in the courtyard.

"Alright, everyone has their costumes right?" Aizawa asked as he inspected his students standing before him, all of them carrying their suitcases, backpacks, and their special cases containing their costumes. Peter looked down at his small one, patting it affectionately as his mask and suit were ready to roll. He did double checking on it, triple checking to ensure all systems were green. They were. "Good." He closed his eyes and shushed off the kids. "Be on your best behavior out there. You're representing U.A. you know. You'll be focusing entirely on the hero you are working with over the next two weeks. Don't let this opportunity go to waste. Get going, and do good." He turned around and walked away, hands in his pockets as Peter sighed.

"This is gonna be a blast! I can't wait!" Hagakure chirped with a wave of her hand.

"Agreed. Gotta say, couldn't sleep a wink last night in anticipation." Shoji added from one of his arms.

"I slept like a baby. Then again, helped to get a major workout in." Kirishima grinned, flexing his arm as he saw Tokoyami walking ahead of him. "Hey man, you headed to Kyushu? It's in the South side of the station. That's where Hawks is located."

"Ah, my thanks." The bird-headed boy replied.

"You excited as well?" Karen asked in his ear. Peter shrugged.

"Kind of. I mean, I've worked with heroes before in the past. But, I'd never worked with one as part of a high school curriculum. It's still kinda surreal ya know?" Peter replied as he looked up at the various screens and electronic billboards as they displayed various ads from Uwabami's fashion items to Wash's appliance advertisement. And no one batted an eye or said some snide comment on collateral damage. That's how it was back in his world with the Avengers ever since New York, and it amplified with D.C., and each incident afterward. Especially Sokovia. Now there was a Hawkeye on every street corner and a Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America in every town.

"Indeed. Commercial Superheroes, with many laws and regulations our world could have used. Either way, I am sure you will be accepted well enough if you keep this pace up, Peter."

"Appreciate it." Peter replied with a smile as he saw Momo standing in his peripheral vision, head tilted.

"You on a phone call?" She asked in Japanese and the American perked up.

"Oh! Uhh, thanks Miss Karen, I'll definitely keep that in mind!" Peter said in English with a grin, tapping his earbud. Thankfully the AI understood as he felt a vibration down low and saw a thumbs-up icon. Atta girl. "Was just having a small call with my uhhh, guidance foreign counselor. Laying out plans, all that cool stuff." He replied back in Japanese.

"A foreign guidance counselor?" A crap botched it. Peter bit the inside of his cheek. Still much he has to learn... "Hmmm… I am not privy to Exchange Students and the whole process, so you would know more than I do in that field." The black haired girl mused as she crossed her arms. "So, you're going to Endo Ward, right? That's on the other side of Tokyo."

"Yep. Gonna be a long ride on the train." Peter stretched. "Where's Yoyoi Musha at?" At that moment, Momo giggled as she placed her fingers over her mouth.

"Oh it's Yoroi Musha, Peter-san." She smiled and Peter felt dumb botching a Pro Hero's name. Mirko Mirko Mirko. "As for Musha-san, he is based in Korosanto Ward, so it is not far, thankfully. I just have to take a bus. I must say though Peter-san, when I thought about it, you selecting Mirko was a smart choice."

"Really? Ummm, I know she's a Rabbit Hero and is super strong." Peter crossed his arms, racking his brain for additional info on her. "Oh, and that she isn't around Endo a lot either. Like, she goes cross-country solving and stopping crimes as she goes. Sooo… she's like a hitchhiker?" Peter suggested, wishing he had looked up more on her. Karen kept quiet for now, since he wasn't sure how to respond to her while in the middle of a conversation.

"Really? I was considering how your Quirks are quite similar in terms of versatility and skillset. It is strange though for Mirko to send out internship offers." She cupped her chin in thought. "I don't follow heroes often, but she is a Top Ten, but she has no sidekicks in her agency given her vagabond style of heroing." She placed her hands on her hips and then smiled. "I guess given your performance that you must have really left an impression on her."

"Heh, yeah, I bet." Peter looked to the side, knowing why he had to pick her and not others. Granted, he had thousands of emails to comb through, so in a way he was grateful to Principal Nezu and All Might for helping him, but he would have liked to see what other offers he had gotten. "I heard Yoroi Musha is in the Top Ten too. What do you have planned?"

"Hopefully I can learn many things from him. Heroism tips. Combat Techniques. Quirk Refinement hints. And all that may be only the tip of the iceberg." Momo closed her eyes. "I have gotten stronger since coming to U.A., but I feel that I need to grow stronger still. After all, you have set the bar so high for everyone." She turned back to him, her obsidian eyes shining. "I need to step up my game."

"I know you can." Peter nodded as he pocketed his hands. "You're gonna do great, Momo-san. Don't feel that you need to be pressured; just, go at your own pace. Life's too short to be rushing things. You don't have to be a Top Ten or... something like that right off the bat." He shrugged, grinning as he remembered Mr. Stark's words. Well, somewhat. He's paraphrasing. "I suppose to put it simply, before I don't make any sense, just be the Everyhero Creati you wanna be!"

She blinked, before she giggled. "I appreciate your words." She looked to the ground as she looked deep in thought. "Peter." She spoke in English as Peter perked up. "I… noticed the last few days that you looked a little down." Peter looked away. Damnit, was it that obvious? "Is something wrong?"

Peter took a deep breath, scratching the back of his head. "Ummm… me and a friend had a… disagreement, on things." He couldn't just start a rumor mill like this. He already felt like an ass. At school, Pony hasn't even looked at him when they passed by each other a few times.

He couldn't blame her.

"I see, I am sorry to hear that. I hope things improve."

'You and me both.' Peter thought. "It's nothing major to worry about, don't sweat over it." He looked back up at her, seeing how other students in Class A were busy socializing before their trains arrived. He saw Uraraka and Midoriya run off after Iida.

"Heya Ace!" Peter felt an arm draped around his shoulders as he looked down at the redheaded Kirishima, he grinned at him. "Talkin' about your internships?"

"Uhh, yeah, we were." The brown-haired boy replied. Momo seemed sheepish, looking away. "You excited to work under that Fourth Kind guy?"

"You bet I am, and when I get back I know that I'll be stronger than ever!" He gave Peter a challenging look as he pointed at his classmate's chest. "When we face off again, I'll be the one who gets the win!"

"You better get in line, I think Sato-kun has a claim already." Momo replied as Eijirou perked up.

"Oh yeah, you two fought in the Tournament round!" He punched his open palm with his fist. "Then I'll make a claim on his claim and defeat him man to man! Winner gets you!"

"Now that just sounds weird. Is this how rivalries work?" Peter asked.

"Still, two weeks for internships? I mean, I like the hero work, but midterms are just a week after this stuff, right?" Eijirou changed the subject, looking to the ground. "I was really hoping to get some studying in. I'm just scraping by in some of my classes."

"If it's help with studying, I'm sure we can set something up." Peter suggested, happy to talk more about normal school things rather than rivalries and fight-claims.

"Yeah! I could use some help with math, and the teachers always call on you to fix up an equation me, Kaminari, or Hagakure couldn't get!" Eijirou grinned as he bounced on his feet. "You're like a Math Wizard! As expected from Ace!"

"And I need help with normal Japanese and Calligraphy." Peter laughed. "I mean, I can speak it fine and write normally, but I have some trouble with minor stuff. And History." Boy, did History suck. The History he once knew… was literally ancient history! Like the 1812 War and the Louisiana Purchase!

"Then why don't we set up a study group?" Momo suggested, beaming. "Every day after school we can reconvene at my house and use my family's study. I would be happy to assist."

"That's awesome!" Eijirou beamed as he pumped his fist. "Man, now I can sleep easier now with that in mind!" He separated himself from Peter. "With that, we should focus on our internships for now though. Can't look too far ahead on the road, or else we'll miss the potholes!"

"Get that from a fortune cookie?" Peter asked with a grin as the redhead collected his bags.

"Nah, my dad told me that. Whelp, my train takes off in ten. We better get a move on. See ya in the chat and in two weeks!" Eijirou waved as everyone began to go their separate ways. This series of departures left Peter and Momo alone as they looked back at each other.

"So… Study Group?"

"Umm, yes." Momo nodded, hands folded in front of her stomach. "I think it would be in everyone's best interest for anyone we invite that we split roles. I will handle Japanese, Calligraphy, and History. And you can handle Math and Science."

"There are two science classes, so leave it to me." Peter grinned, offering a hand. "We are the Class Reps. We gotta look after our, well, class."

Momo beamed, and Peter felt her soft silky hand shake his own, his chocolate orbs staring into her black pearls. "Well said. We'll support our classmates…" She paused, as if wanting to say something else, a bit of pink on her cheeks. "Together in the future. But for now, let's become better heroes!"

"You got it." Peter bowed lightly and turned, collecting his belongings as he saw the black-haired beauty do the same. "See ya around, Momo-san! Tell me how it's like under Musha!"

"You too!" Momo waved, and she left with a light bounce in her step as Peter collected his belongings and walked to the Central Wing of the station. There he'd get on the Train for Endo Ward.

"Seems you and that girl are quite cordial." Karen mused in his ear.

"We are Class Reps. We work together." Peter laughed ruefully.

"You'll have to tell me in detail on the train then."

"Will do."